Entertainment
Critical Mass: Reclaiming roads for cycle riders
On Friday evening, more than 150 cyclists reclaimed roads for cycle riders and enthusiasts at Critical Mass October. Organised by Cycle City Network Nepal (CCNN), the event pedaled on the theme #battibalera—Get Visible.On Friday evening, more than 150 cyclists reclaimed roads for cycle riders and enthusiasts at Critical Mass October. Organised by Cycle City Network Nepal (CCNN), the event pedaled on the theme #battibalera—Get Visible.
The October Critical Mass saw participation by over 150 cyclists; while the event also featured a bamboo car-cycle dubbed Land Robber. Land Robber depicted the space occupied by a car compared to a bicycle. This car-cycle was initially conceived and overseen by the organisation Adventure Nepal Open Crew (ANOC) as the bamboo skeleton project to mark the World Car Free Day.
The event started at 6pm from Basantapur Durbar Square weaving a route that followed through Basantapur - Newroad - Jamal - Hattisar - Putalisadak - Bhadrakali - Tripureshore - Kupondole - Pulchowk, and came to an end at Mangalbazaar, in Lalitpur. The rides illuminated the dark and busy streets of the Capital with LED lights, flashlights, reflectors and DIY lights.
The event also commemorated late Dr Prahlad Yonzon—a pro cyclist who lost his life in Balkhu in a bicycle accident.
Conducted monthly by bicycle activists in over 200 cities around the world, the Critical Mass is currently held at 5 cities around Nepal. CCNN has been facilitating the monthly event apart from its primary campaign KCC 2020—Kathmandu a cycle friendly city by the year 2020.